Man Recreates Childhood Photo With Dog for 15 Years to Honor His 'Best Pal'

Man Recreates Childhood Photo With Dog for 15 Years to Honor His 'Best Pal' (ABC News)

This man and his best friend, his beloved dog Birdy, have had 15-and-a-half years of epic adventures. But now that Birdy’s days are winding down as he battles a probable cancer diagnosis, Gordon Delacroix, of Brussels, is feeling particularly sentimental about his precious pup.

Delacroix, the lead singer of the band Recorders, posted these sentimental photos to Reddit recreating the same childhood photo in front of his grandmother’s house in Belgium for the past 15 years at ages 15, 25 and 30.

“Five years ago I was just going through old pictures and stumbled upon that one, I checked in my wardrobe and (embarrassingly) the same sweater was still just sitting there so I thought why not redo the picture?” Delacroix told ABC News of what inspired him to mimic the original photo. “The one I took yesterday was mostly because I thought people might enjoy it or find it interesting; it's also a great memory to have of my best pal!”

He was right -- people are certainly enjoying it. After posting the photos to Reddit, they’ve been viewed more than 2 million times in just one day.

Delacroix and Birdy’s evolution from fresh-faced new friends to bearded, burlier and, in Birdy’s case, a graying older gentlemen, has pulled on social media’s heartstrings.

Every detail, from wearing the same navy blue pullover to holding his sweet dog like a baby, and even standing in the exact same spot at his grandmother’s house despite two new tenants living there after her death, meant the world to Delacroix to preserve because, “He is definitely my best friend,” he said. “He's a part of me at this point.”

After years of his four-legged friend being at his side for sledding adventures, beach trips, sessions in the recording studio and even starring in one of his band’s music videos, Delacroix is doing everything he can to savor his final time with Birdy.

“He could easily be great for another six months, but it's also possible that he'll get very sick again soon and this time for the last time,” he said. “It breaks my heart just to think about it, but we've had so many great years and adventures together.